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My revision surgery was one week ago, yesterday. My results are AMAZING. Dr. Tribus really got a chance to show what an amazing surgeon he is. When he opened me up, apparently I was in worse condition than the CT had suggested. Two of the non-union levels were straightforward and he redid those. The 3rd was a challenge: it wiggled freely, and had a nerve wrapped around it, which made it riskier than had been expected. He's said a few times that where that nerve was made him nervous, as he cleaned out the area and applied the bmp. He was "worried about any neurologic deficit [I] might be left with", and was relieved when he knew that I was OK.
My first 15 hours awake were excruciating. They tried different meds, but nothing helped at all. I wouldn't have known they had given me anything if they hadn't told me. I spent a few hours in Recovery, while my husband waited in my designated room, getting reports that they were still trying to manage my pain. At 10:30pm, Recovery closes, so then they took me to my room. Around 6am, the 4th yr resident who had been in the OR w/me came in and said if he could, he'd snow me, but my respirations were already too low. Both he and Dr. Tribus said, in their separate visits, that they were not surprised by my level of pain because they knew what they did to me in the OR. Also, the resident said that, as soon as they saw my spine, they understood how/why I had been in so much pain and that I had not exaggerated. That made me feel vindicated. My day shift RN came in and started with meds, positioning and ice packs, and by 10am, I was more comfortable. BUT, I realized early on that the horrible bone pain that came from the non-union of that wiggly vert, was GONE!! And, just as wonderful, the osteotomy had totally taken care of my sagittal imbalance - I realized that, as soon as I walked, Wed night. I feel like I have my life, and my future, back!! I turned 50 on Sun - best birthday present ever!!
So, now I'm taking it easy. My pain is easily controlled by oxycodone, Flexaril and Tylenol. Last night, I actually slept 6 hours straight. For some reason, the worst of the pain is under my left ribs - muscle spasm, I guess.
It's good to be back!
My first 15 hours awake were excruciating. They tried different meds, but nothing helped at all. I wouldn't have known they had given me anything if they hadn't told me. I spent a few hours in Recovery, while my husband waited in my designated room, getting reports that they were still trying to manage my pain. At 10:30pm, Recovery closes, so then they took me to my room. Around 6am, the 4th yr resident who had been in the OR w/me came in and said if he could, he'd snow me, but my respirations were already too low. Both he and Dr. Tribus said, in their separate visits, that they were not surprised by my level of pain because they knew what they did to me in the OR. Also, the resident said that, as soon as they saw my spine, they understood how/why I had been in so much pain and that I had not exaggerated. That made me feel vindicated. My day shift RN came in and started with meds, positioning and ice packs, and by 10am, I was more comfortable. BUT, I realized early on that the horrible bone pain that came from the non-union of that wiggly vert, was GONE!! And, just as wonderful, the osteotomy had totally taken care of my sagittal imbalance - I realized that, as soon as I walked, Wed night. I feel like I have my life, and my future, back!! I turned 50 on Sun - best birthday present ever!!
So, now I'm taking it easy. My pain is easily controlled by oxycodone, Flexaril and Tylenol. Last night, I actually slept 6 hours straight. For some reason, the worst of the pain is under my left ribs - muscle spasm, I guess.
It's good to be back!
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